Quantum Leap - Vol. 3 I Will Wait For You On The Other Side

C019 HHUUAARRGGHH

Thursday, 18th May 1995

After spending time in the hospital in the ICU ward where Akira was in, I had decided that it would be best to leave since I am of no help to Akira at this moment. I was not a medical staff in my past life so I would not be of any assistance to the doctors and nurses so it would be best if I vanish from the scene for some time. At least, it would help me to keep my mind off Akira for some time.

It was about 6 am when I decided to leave the hospital grounds as I made my way back home on foot and decided to dump my clothes that I had bought from the convenience stores nearby and let the landlord handle the dirty laundry instead. 

I went back to school and I was literally dragging my feet and I had to remind Mr Director to provide me with another new pair as the one that I am dragging across the asphalt had totally worn out already. Hahaha...! It was on Thursday morning right before I reminded the nurses repeatedly to call me anytime, regardless the time whether I'm in school or not when Akira wakes up as I turned to leave and head for school.

Special arrangements were being made for me since the landlord had packed my school bag and delivered it to me personally along with my school uniform that had been freshly pressed on Wednesday evening and it was ready to be picked up upon arrival back home. All I did was to sling my school bag and change into my fresh school uniform which I had almost forgotten how it felt to be a student in this series.

Both the landlord and his wife had somehow regarded me as their step-son as they knew I do not mix with those people who were of ill reputation. And according to the teachers, I had good grades as well and was a quiet student in school except on the futsal field where I would prove to be a lion on the prowl.

My parents, however, were on a world tour to promote their findings in scientific researches that they had been doing so for the past 20 years. Their names were well known with several universities around the world where they were used to be invited for talks on their findings as well as their books. I heard they even got some stupid Noble prizes that I had never heard of. As long as they never decrease my school funds in order to support myself and my cravings for Japanese food, then I don't think I should have a thing in my mind right now.

They never had time for me but made money as an excuse to show concern and affection. Well, it's alright... I won't mind since I am just passing through this body as a carrier and be making the Leap when the time comes. So Max, when the hell do I make the Leap? Right after Akira had regained her consciousness or something or maybe claim another victory in the futsal arena?

After school hours, I decided to meet with Ayumi, the President of Sports Committee out of respect rather than the obligation that I had to fulfil after she tried to stick her tongue down my throat. Luckily she was not a lizard or else I would have chocked on her tongue the other time...!

By 3:20 pm I was told by the school's receptionist that Ayumi had not entered her office yet and was told to wait for the President for Sports Committee outside the office. So I whiled the time away by looking at the photos inside my mobile phone instead. I called up the hospital regards to Akira's progress and after receiving their report, I hung up before saying that I would be returning there after school.

Ayumi finally entered the General Office after U had waited for her for some time. The moment she saw me sitting on the long bench, she sauntered over as she somehow seductively slid her finger under my chin as she walked towards me. "Give me 5 minutes to clear my paperwork..." she told me in a monotone manner like as if the seduction move did not occur at all. 

I smirked when I felt her touch and managed to turn my face away in disgust.

I simply nodded and waited for 5 minutes before I knocked on the door and let myself in.

" Sit down... "

She offered... NO...! Its more like commanding me to sit on the plush armchair opposite her but instead, I remained standing up. I do not wish to be a pushover with her anymore, not anymore dude...!

"Forget about the sports and academic sponsorship, I am not interested in them anymore... If you are here to talk about the remunerations package, use it as a fundraiser for Akira's recovery and expenses in the hospital... I have no interest in the personal monetary gains at all too. I have more money than you think it is. Of all the money inside the bank, only those printed on the account balance sheet is mine. Hahaha...!"

I told her off in the manliest fashion as I could and laughed hysterically after telling her off in that fashion. It is not that I do not need the money, but I would rather see it as crowdfunding to raise money to support Akira's medical expenses. It costs ¥12,000 for a day to stay in hospital and that may or not be inclusive of medicine, treatment and doctors' daily visits.

Earlier, as I was toying with my phone, I had made a request to my so-called parents who were in New York at this time to wire a sum of ¥360,000 a month for 6 consecutive months for the medical expenses in case there are any shortages whatsoever. 

I instructed them to transfer the money directly to Akira's name who is now at Ookuma Hospital. I explained the situation to them and at least my so-called parents would not think I would be using the money to pay up some Yakuza members or some dark underground cult et cetera.

"Alright, Shiro... That's fine if you wish to create crowdfunding for Akira. I'm not a stone-hearted girl, you know... I will initiate the crowdfunding from tomorrow onwards. I always consider Akira as my swimming mate and also a friendly competitor, and of course, I would like to help her and her family to ease the medical expenses...Your personal remuneration for the Futsal tournament, which is an amount of ¥23,000 will be the initial pool for the crowdfunding, would that be alright?"

I raised my eyebrows when I heard those words coming from her especially the incident that she had left with a rather negative perspective by Akira's aunt. WHAT A SUCCUBUS...!!!

"Also, if it is your desire to reject the sponsorship for the sports and academic, I won't have much to say and respect your decision. It will be scrapped from now. Look here, is this your signature on both the agreements? I'm going to shred them now, in witness in front of you... "

She handed me the previous documents that I had signed and countersigned by hers truly, I nodded that this was the documents that I need it to be done with. She inserted the whole stack of papers into her portable paper shredder and the deed was finally done with it.

"Now, tell me, Shiro... From the bottom of your heart and through your thick skull as well as your thick manhood underneath your pants there, are you going to wait forever for Akira to awake from her coma?"

"Yes, President-sama, even if you had never asked me, I would not give up on her and would wait no matter how long for Akira to come to her senses..."

"Ookuma General Hospital comes under my parents' power, I just want you to understand the situation at hand here...with just a single injection, any patient would slip away from unconsciousness right into the abyss of death..."

I was shocked and shuddered at how cold and merciless her words may sound at the time of this. How could she have a dark black heart and a soft heart at the same time?!? Even to the extent of ordering a nurse to administer a lethal injection, or even herself if she is capable enough!! OH MA f*****g GAAAAAA....!!!!

Ayumi was blabbering as I stared ahead of me, unable to digest what I had heard and what my mind was going through at this time. "Your winnings will be used as the start of the crowdfunding for our dear friend, Akira. Next, your desire to forgo the sponsorships for academic and sports had been nullified. And now all I want is just small favour if you truly love Akira..." Ayumi played with one end of her fringe as she looked at me right after she had spoken her piece. It was as though she was stalling for time and making sure her last sentence would make a great impact.

"BLACKMAIL...!!!" I screamed the thoughts in my head as I try not to fidget and look nervous. She rose from her seat and took the bamboo kendo stick that was beside her table, lifted it over her shoulders and walked towards me. FUCK...!!! WHAT THE f**k IS SHE DOING WITH THAT WOODEN KABUTO...!!! BUTOOOOOOO...!!!

She walked towards me with a seductive pose and as she ran her right fingertips on my shoulder, I suddenly sprang into a battle mode stance that I never had thought that it would be activated at that moment and faced her directly. My left palm open towards me as my right hand was pulled back to my sides in ready mode to strike a punch or change into a closed fist block if possible.

"Relax, baby...you think I'm gonna hit you with this? You got fire in your soul and ready to spring like a tiger at your opponents and breath fire like a dragon on them from a distance...That's what I like about you... Reserved and collected. Your desire to survive is rather strong and your heart will never admit defeat... I wonder how you would perform in bed, would you be as docile as a cat or dominant like a tiger...?"

I never let my eyes off her hands and feet as the way she prances around me. I was numb to whatever her words for right now Sam Mulder is facing off with a nemesis with a heart so black, it was darker than the night without stars above. Simply put it was blacker than black. Whatever it is, the one who wields a weapon is definitely mightier than one who goes in bare naked.

'Tell me, Shiro... What is the meaning of this ring that you had bought for me and slipped it into my finger the other day? It is a sign that you would want to spend your whole life with me right? Who in the world would spends thousand of yen just for a stupid ring and especially for a girl like me, whom many boys are going after but no one is of my liking except you, Shiro... " Ayumi licked her lips and swirled her tongue seductively out as she spoke those words to me.

"I don't want to know about all that. You'd better take back your words against Ookuma General Hospital matters to them and not harbour any harm against Akira. What did she do to get this kind of treatment? Did you also plant the plan for the accident as well?"

"Hahahahaha... Money does wonders and moves things against their will as they succumb towards the desire to grasp them. Greedy fools... I never say I did and I never said I don't..." Ayumi was waving her wooden kabuto on her shoulders from the left and then to the right as if she was simply taunting it with me.

"YOU...!!!!"

I screamed as I lunged forward at her, aiming for her throat with my right hand. She jumped back a few steps and just picked her wooden kabuto stick that she was carrying on her shoulders and stabbed it at my throat directly instead. This unexpected action had forced me to bend over and clutched both hands at my throat, choking, coughing and gasping for air as streams of hot tears poured from both my eyes as I tried to breathe but was unable to do it freely....!!

"FUCK...FUCK...FUCK...FUCK...FUCK...!!!"

I raised my hand to stop what she was doing. Dammit... I was stupid to rush at her knowing that she had a weapon in hand... How dumb could I be...?!?

Tears were soon cascading my face like a cup of water that was filled to the brim... "Tell me what I have to do next... Promise... NO... Swear to me that you will not harm Akira in any manner...!! I pleaded through my hoarse and squeaky voice.

She walked towards me, used her kendo stick and raised my chin and she squatted down in front of me.

"I swear upon my ancestor's tomb that I will never harm Akira in any manner... But what I'm going to ask from you is to stay clear of Akira once you got to taste the forbidden fruit... I want you to be the tiger and be the dragon when the time comes, honey... "

As long as Akira is safe and not being harmed in any way, I'd have to do it no matter how much I loathe against it. I won't have to agree to her first but I need to make sure Akira is well-taken care even if she does not come out of her coma soon.